Hydrogen Influence on Metals
Metallic materials become brittle under direct influence of hydrogen, and lose their strength. The development of new materials requires realistic testing during which the metallic material specimens and components can be characterized under the influence of, or after being subjected to hydrogen. The effect is an embrittlement of the material, which is noticeable in the fracture mechanics, among other things.
The standards ASTM F519 and ASTM F1624 describe test methods for evaluating hydrogen embrittlement of high-strength metals.

Materials testing under hydrogen influence
- Before the test, specimens are stored in a hydrogen atmosphere so that the hydrogen can diffuse into the material.
- Under direct influence of compressed hydrogen (high pressure) or liquid hydrogen (very low temperatures up to 22 K), very exact test conditions can be generated, but they require complex testing techniques.
ZwickRoell testing solutions
- For materials testing, static testing machines and servohydraulic testing systems up to 100 kN are used to perform tensile tests, fatigue tests and fracture mechanics investigations at pressures up to 1000 bar in a hydrogen environment. (Temperature: -85° to +150 °C).
- In addition, the failure behavior of materials in liquid hydrogen is to be determined under static, oscillating and creep loading at low temperatures (approx. 22 Kelvin). Here, static testing machines, fatigue testing machines and creep testing machines come into play. More information on creep tests.
ZwickRoell testing solution – cryogenic environment
- In addition, the failure behavior of materials in liquid hydrogen is to be determined under static, oscillating and creep loading at low temperatures (approx. 22 Kelvin). Here, static testing machines, servohydraulic testing machines, creep testing machines and pendulum impact testers come into play. (More information on creep tests).